Blow The Scene

Baroness, Pallbearer, Tombs Philly Photo Exclusive

Baroness recently made their first pass through Philly as a full band since having plummeted along with their tour bus, 30-feet from an viaduct into a ravine in Bath, England last August. The harrowing incident leaving all 4 members, and 9 people in total, with varying degrees of serious injuries. The event just following the release of critically acclaimed album Yellow & Green, which hit streets via Relapse Records last May to rave reviews from Spin, Rolling Stone, and an overwhelming amount of media outlets. We caught up with founder and frontman/guitarist John Dyer Baizley last Spring just as the album was being released for an exclusive video interview as Baroness passed through Philly’s TLA with Messughah and Decapitated. Newly relocated to Philadelphia by way of Georgia, Baizely discussed the making the album and the band’s stance on challenging the confines of popular music. As fate would have it, Baroness would be dealt a life-changing set of challenges themselves surrounding this horrific bus accident that would leave half the band unable to continue touring.

As this current tour run with Tombs and Pallbearer was made public in March, Baroness made the following statement:

“..For some of us, the accident necessitated a change that would prevent them from performing music or touring. It is with sadness that we must announce that Matt Maggioni and Allen Blickle will not continue touring with Baroness.”

During this time period Blow The Scene caught up with Baizley in Philly on several occasions. First, during a surprise collaboration with Converge during Decibel’s 100th Issue Bash last January, followed by Baizley‘s first public music performance for a solo set at Philly’s First Unitarian Church during a show with Ghostlimb and several Philly locals. Shortly thereafter, Baizely and Baroness guitarist Pete Adams would open for Neurosis at the Union Transfer via a semi-acoustic set that delighted the crowd. Blow The Scene was there for all it with in-depth photo coverage and review information, so do utilize these links for further investigation!

Zip forward a few months, and the newly assembled band is forging ahead to the delight of a fan-base long starved to hear one of 2012’s best-received albums. Baroness proceeded to cut a wide swath accross their musical catalogue with a distinctive bend on Yellow & Green that a packed audience at Union Transfer ate hand over fist.

NYC’s tech-metal wizards in Tombs along with Pallbearer rounded out the bill for what proved to be an engaging mix of talents, each within its own niche focus within the borad spectrum of metal. In case you’ve been sleeping, or are not up your metal, Decibel Magazine ranked Tombs‘ latest release on Relapse, Path of Totality, #1 in their Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2011 list. The album is an absolute ripper from start to finish and should not be missed by any fans fo the genre. Let’s not forget Pallbearer, who is currently touring in support of their debut double-LP, Sorrow and Extinction, which hit streets in February via 20 Buck Spin Records, for fans of well-rounded, sludge-induced, rock-inspired, metal.